Dear Editor,
There seem to be some major advantages in growing hemp to provide fuel and energy.
It can be grown on marginal lands where food crop production is not profitable; the carbon dioxide it takes from the air when it is growing is replaced when it is being converted; growing hemp on approximately six per cent to 10 per cent of our lands could meet our energy needs; and the technology is well established since 1973.
In addition, it uses similar process equipment as crude fossil fuel oil and coal; it is labour-intensive — three shifts a day production; we can produce 10 tons per acre in 90 to 120 days, four crops per year; and it can be grown in rotation with food crops, while helping to develop family farms.
Growing hemp will also provide employment for truckers, initiate the development of small sunrise businesses such as body-care, feeds, foods, oils, clothes, ropes, hempcrete, bedding, etc; reduce unemployment; and insulate our country from the vagaries of world conditions and their impact on the price of oil.
Insects do not like this plant, so it is low-maintenance in relation to pesticides and other chemicals and will phenomenally reduce our requirement for foreign exchange to purchase energy.
Plus, hemp is very drought-resistant.
Carlton Stewart
stewart.carlton@gmail.com
Advantages in growing hemp
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There seem to be some major advantages in growing hemp to provide fuel and energy.
It can be grown on marginal lands where food crop production is not profitable; the carbon dioxide it takes from the air when it is growing is replaced when it is being converted; growing hemp on approximately six per cent to 10 per cent of our lands could meet our energy needs; and the technology is well established since 1973.
In addition, it uses similar process equipment as crude fossil fuel oil and coal; it is labour-intensive — three shifts a day production; we can produce 10 tons per acre in 90 to 120 days, four crops per year; and it can be grown in rotation with food crops, while helping to develop family farms.
Growing hemp will also provide employment for truckers, initiate the development of small sunrise businesses such as body-care, feeds, foods, oils, clothes, ropes, hempcrete, bedding, etc; reduce unemployment; and insulate our country from the vagaries of world conditions and their impact on the price of oil.
Insects do not like this plant, so it is low-maintenance in relation to pesticides and other chemicals and will phenomenally reduce our requirement for foreign exchange to purchase energy.
Plus, hemp is very drought-resistant.
Carlton Stewart
stewart.carlton@gmail.com
Advantages in growing hemp
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